Gas Firm Blasts Gov Proposal

Island Energy, owner of Isle of Man Energy, has criticised proposed legislation aimed to protect some islanders from having their gas cut off as ‘disappointing’ and ‘unnecessary’.

The gov will next week propose urgent legislation aimed at providing CoMin with the ability to prevent disconnection for gas customers in certain circumstances.

In a statement, Isle of Man Energy said it has been working wit the Office of Fair Trading to ensure that vulnerable customers are identified and disconnections don’t impact them.

The company added that disconnections are a ‘tool of last resort and only take place where a customer refuses to engage on paying their bill’.

It also said that ‘ceasing supply to a customer that has not paid their bill is right and fair, and very normal’.

The company has been repeatedly criticised by islanders over bill issues this year, with the OFT recording over 300 complaints about issues with gas bills between April and November.

Jo Cox, CEO Island Energy said: ‘We are very happy to work with the government and regulator to protect our vulnerable customers during the winter period and would recommend that we engage in a voluntary agreement similar to the UK and Ireland.  

‘It is disappointing to us that the Isle of Man Government has taken this unnecessary measure rather than seeking to engage us in a collaborative way to find an agreeable solution.

‘These changes need to be properly considered, have appropriate Government funding and resources to support the island’s vulnerable residents, and we need to ensure that this is commercially viable to deliver. While the aims of the new bill are understandable, it has not been properly consulted on, and is not specific enough on what constitutes a vulnerable customer, what process will replace disconnection as the means of last resort for Isle of Man Energy and many other details.

‘It also does not include other energy suppliers in the Isle of Man and is therefore anti-competitive.’

Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan has said that the Bill is not about people not paying their bills, but protecting the vulnerable.

MHKs will be asked to approve the Bill next week, with LegCo waiting in the wings to debate it if the Bill clears the House of Keys in one sitting as intended.